First look at playoff chances
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I get to cover the best teams in the country.
Eight of the top 25 teams in the country reside in the west including three of the top five — not to mention the last two teams to claim the Stagg!
But, with this much western weight in the Top 25 and with the playoffs just around the bend, it’s time to take a closer look at this year’s conference front runners and see who will represent the west the furthest in 2005.
Linfield
Points per game: 49
Points allowed per game: 13.3
It’s hard to find a chink in the armor of the defending national champions. Their passing attack is the best in the west (and possibly the nation) with All-American quarterback Brett Elliott throwing to a fleet of seven receivers who have caught touchdowns. Casey Allen is leading the way at receiver with 12 touchdowns in six games. Defensively, the Wildcats may be better than last year. They already have six defensive touchdowns and 16 sacks through six games. They had 29 in 13 games last year.
If there are questions marks for the ’Cats they are in the backfield and on special teams. If Elliott has a bad day or an opposing team finds a way to shut down the receivers, there is little experience in the backfield. Mordechai Kotler is the leading rusher at 51 yards per game. Special teams wise, the Wildcats don’t have an especially solid punter and opponents have been able to keep Brandon Hazenberg in check on punt returns.
Last word: Book your tickets to Salem, Wildcats fans.
UW-Whitewater
Points per game: 45.1
Points allowed per game: 15.6
After finishing in a three-way tie for second place in the WIAC last year, the Warhawks have burst on the scene in 2005. They have as many wins as they had last year and have already beaten the three teams they lost to last season. The Warhawks have a balanced offense led by running back Justin Beaver with 14 touchdowns in six games and 16 touchdowns from quarterback Justin Jacobs. Wide receiver Jim Leszczynski has come on recently averaging 100 yards receiving with seven touchdowns in as many games. The defense is consistent racking up 11 sacks and 13 interceptions.
UW-Whitewater is the first WIAC team since UW-Stout in 2000 to open a season with seven straight wins. They appear to have pulled away from the rest of the pack in the annually clogged top of the conference.
Last Word: Book your tickets to McMinnville, Warhawk fans. Unless you can get yourselves moved into another bracket.
St. John’s
Points per game: 40.5
Points allowed per game: 12.1
After missing the playoffs in 2004, the Johnnies seem to have returned to their dominant status in the MIAC. Their stingy defense has led the way as the offense has looked lost at times. Damien Dumonceaux leads the defense which has tallied 27 sacks and 17 interceptions including two returned for touchdowns. Offensively, quarterback Alex Kofoed has had a bumpy sophomore campaign. He has thrown just 12 touchdowns compared to nine interceptions and his decisions in key situations have left some scratching their heads. Running back Corey Weber has led the way offensively with 15 touchdowns (13 rushing, two receiving).
In their toughest challenge of the season, the Johnnies needed a hailmary pass with 35 seconds to play to beat Concordia on the road, 20-16. A showdown with fellow unbeaten St. Olaf this weekend in Collegeville will shed some light on whether the Johnnies can shutdown a high powered offense.
Last word: Inexperienced quarterback spells second round loss.
Occidental
Points per game: 37.7
Points allowed per game: 16.7
Occidental has started its 2005 campaign as if to say, “Last season was no fluke.” The Tigers are 6-0 and have proven they can win the close games including two decided by eight points or less. Quarterback Andy Collins is averaging 287 yards a game with 15 touchdowns to only three interceptions. The Tigers count on many players on offense including three running backs averaging 50 yards per game and five receivers who have caught touchdowns.
Defensively, the Tigers bend but don’t break. They have 14 sacks on the season but just five interceptions. They’ve given up 20 or more points three times in six games.
Last word: First round defeat in 2005 after good run last year.
Central
Points per game: 25.7
Points allowed per game: 15.7
By far the least flashy of the top teams in the West, Central has more of a blue-collar approach on Saturday afternoons. Running back Vance Schuring is leading the way on offense with nine touchdowns. Quarterback Tim Connell is the epitome of this team with seven touchdowns and six interceptions — nothing fancy but efficient.
Defensively, the Dutch have 13 sacks and eight interceptions. The team has come up big in close games and will need a big win over Wartburg to solidify its spot on the top of the IIAC.
Last word: Sleeper for first round upset.
Right on cue
Simpson All-American defensive end Jason Ripke led the Storm defense on Saturday in a 27-7 homecoming victory over Cornell. Ripke, who was presented a plaque from the NCAA at halftime for leading Division III in 2004 in tackles for a loss, had a season high 12 tackles with 3˝ tackles for loss including three sacks.
Passes don’t fly for Falcons
The UW-River Falls Falcons tallied 249 rushing yards and 249 yards of total offense. Yes, you read that correctly. Falcon quarterback Jeremy Wolff threw three passes completing two of them to Stout defenders and watching the third one fall incomplete. He finished the day 0-for-3 with two interceptions and 10 rushes for 42 yards. His quarterback ranking of zero could have been improved to 2.78 had he complete his one non-intercepted pass for one yard.* Needless to say, the Falcons lost 38-6.
Puget Sound-ly beaten
Last season, only five of 13 opponents stayed within 19 points of eventual national champion Linfield. Surprisingly, Puget Sound was one of those teams losing 35-16. This year, the improved Loggers were felled by the Linfield tree. The Wildcats erupted to a quick 34 points with 7:37 to play in the second half. They would allow one touchdown to the Loggers before running off another 28 straight points before winning 62-7. All-American quarterback Brett Elliott led the way for Linfield throwing for 364 yards and six touchdowns with no interceptions in just over two quarters of work.
Phil-ing up the stat sheet
With 202 yards on Saturday, Bethel running back Phil Porta set the school’s all-time career rushing record — as a junior. He now has 3,571 yards rushing passing Mike Johnson who finished his career with 3,435 yards. He now sets his sights on the MIAC career rushing record set by St. Thomas’ Jake Barkley at 3,952 in 2002. Porta could reach the mark this year and have his senior year to put the record out of reach for challengers down the road.
H-Ole cow that’s a lot of points
The St. Olaf Oles’ 7-0 record is surprising, but even more so is the way they have won the games. Five of their seven wins include scoring streaks of 23 or more unanswered points. From smallest to largest, the Oles ran off 23 straight points against Carleton, 30 against Luther, 39 against Hamline, 46 against St. Thomas and 64 against Macalester. The Oles now hit the meat of their schedule playing Saint John’s and Concordia on the road. Scoring streaks of over 23 straight points against these opponents is unlikely.
Notes, scribbles, jots and dots …
->With four field goals on Saturday, Coe’s Michael Herzberger broke the schools career field goal record. He now has 24 career field goals.
->UW-Whitewater set a school record with 702 yards of total offense.
->UW-Eau Claire quarterback Jesse Krzyzanowski’s favorite target in the Blugolds 27-20 victory on Saturday was his brother Darrin Krzyzanowski with eight catches for 62 yards.
Buena Vista held Luther to minus-50 yards rushing on 24 carries.
->UW-La Crosse has lost two straight WIAC games for the first time since the last two weeks of the 2001 season.
->Independents Macalester and Menlo have each lost 12 straight games.
->UW-Oshkosh is 6-1 for the first time since 1935.
Around the MIAC
St. John’s throttled Augsburg 56-16 behind 123 yards and three touchdowns from running back Corey Weber. … St. Olaf drubbed Hamline 49-14. … Concordia defeated Bethel 30-12 behind 110 yards rushing and 148 yards passing and two touchdowns from quarterback Brian Schumacher. … St. Thomas tripled up Carleton 21-7 behind 16 tackles including three for loss by linebacker Andy Ubbelohde.
Around the WIAC
UW-Whitewater dismantled UW-Platteville 63-28 getting three touchdowns a piece from running back Justin Beaver and wide receiver Jim Leszczynski. … UW-Eau Claire upset UW-La Crosse 27-20 in double overtime behind 154 yards and two touchdowns from running back Joe Gast. … UW-Oshkosh outlasted UW-Stevens Point 23-20 behind 155 yards and two touchdowns from Nick Kilton. … UW-Stout drubbed UW-River Falls 38-6 holding the Falcons to zero receiving yards.
Around the IIAC
Coe defeated Dubuque 40-21 after racing to a 40-0 lead. … Wartburg held off Loras 14-10 to stay tied atop the conference. … Buena Vista dumped Luther 26-21 holding the Ty Sherden-less Norse to 50 yards rushing. … Simpson dropped Cornell 27-7 thanks to a 84-yard interception return for a touchdown by Dustin Schelling.
Around the NWC
Linfield crushed Puget Sound 62-7 behind 364 yards and six touchdowns from quarterback Brett Elliott. … Whitworth whipped Menlo 48-10 behind 156 yards and two touchdowns from receiver Michael Allan. … Pacific Lutheran dumped Southern Oregon (Div II) 28-17 behind two touchdowns from Chase Reed.
Around the SCIAC
Chapman defeated Whittier 23-20 despite 142 yards and a touchdown from Anthony Cappelletti. … Cal Lutheran dropped CMS 25-10 behind four field goals from Connor Pearce. … Occidental held off Redlands 31-24 behind 300 yards passing and two touchdowns and 31 yards rushing and a touchdown.
Games to Watch
St. Olaf at St. John’s, Collegeville, Minn., 1:00 p.m.: The showdown is set for the MIAC’s last two undefeated teams. St. Olaf leads the league in team offense while the Johnnies claim the league’s best defense — something has to give. Last year, the Johnnies turned the ball over eight times in a sloppy affair in Northfield where the Oles came out on top 21-19. Look for St. Olaf coach Chris Meidt to dig into his full bag of tricks with unexpected onside kicks and two point conversions to get a leg up on the Johnnies. The Oles last victory in Collegeville was in 2001, 31-28.
Pacific Lutheran at Willamette, Salem, Ore., 8:00 p.m.: The Lutes need to win out to assure their 37th straight winning season. After dropping their first four games of the season, they have strung together two wins. The Bearcats who also struggled to open the season are now starting to win again. Look for this to be a battle to the finish between two teams looking to prove their worth in the NWC.
Various Division III fans and a medical school student in Des Moines, Iowa contributed to this report.
Reminder
One guy covering five conferences means I could always use your help on story ideas. If you have feedback on a story, have a human interest story idea or want to email me for any other reason, I can be reached at adam.johnson@d3football.com.